FALL RIVER — Even a sinkhole couldn’t undermine the fun at Battleship Cove on Friday as thousands descended on the waterfront to join the fun at Free Fun Day.

According to Battleship Cove Marketing Director Cristoff Shay, Friday’s event got off to a very big start.

“We had 800 admissions by 9:30 this morning,” Shay said.

The gates opened at 9 a.m.

The event is made possible by a grant from The Highlands Street Foundation, a charitable organization whose grant allows Battleship Cove to offer free admission on Free Fun Friday. Shay said 166 Massachusetts locations benefit from similar grants.

By 11 a.m., Shay was reporting 1,551 admissions to the battleship and other attractions.

“We’re hoping for 8,000 to 10,000 by the end of the day,” Shay said.

Thirty-five minutes before the event’s 5 p.m. end time, they were close to that goal, with Shay reporting more than 7,000 people had come for the free fun.

“We’re thankful to the Fall River Police Department for handling the traffic,” Shay said.

Former City Councilor David Dennis was working the visitors information booth.

“What we’re doing is handing out a lot of information about the city,” Dennis said. “We’re also putting people on the trolley and sending them uptown.”

Dennis said special buses were running with trolley trips headed to South Main Street and North Main Street. The Fall River Children’s Museum on North Main Street was offering half-price admission for the day.

Dennis said the event is a big boost for businesses in the downtown area.

“The first year we had this event, the Cinderella Restaurant on Columbia Street told us they had a 30 percent to 40 percent increase in their lunch business.”

Down the street from the Battleship Massachusetts, the Marine Museum was offering half-price admission, too. The museum reported 27 visitors by 1:30 p.m.

Back at the Battleship, the crowd was getting thicker as noon approached.

“It’s a good day for him,” Al Resto of Providence said of his 8 year-old grandson, Yale. “I hope my knee holds out. I got it replaced last year.”

Resto figured his grandson could use a little sun and, just as importantly, a little family history.

“I served in Vietnam,” Resto said, pausing before a helicopter. “I know about the choppers.”

Ty Simmons of New Bedford brought his son, Randall, 8.

“He likes all this war stuff, the military,” Simmons said.

“It’s nice they do this,” he added. “You look for things to do that fit in this economy.”

“We tried to come last year, but it was a hurricane,” said Ann Leger of Fall River, who brought her 9-year-old daughter, Aimee, to the event.

“It’s educational” Leger said. “It’s not just taking her to the park.”